Pep Guardiola praised Manchester City’s remarkable achievement of becoming the first team in history to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals, as a late surge thwarted Southampton’s hopes of a stunning upset at Wembley.
The Saints were on the verge of their first final in 23 years when Finn Azaz’s exquisite strike put the Championship side ahead with just 11 minutes remaining.
However, City responded swiftly with a goal from Jeremy Doku, followed by a stunning finish from Nico Gonzalez that turned the semi-final in their favour, sealing a 2-1 victory.
Having lost their previous two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United, Guardiola’s squad avenged that defeat by overcoming the Red Devils in 2023.
Now set to face either Chelsea or Leeds in the final, City remains firmly in the hunt for a domestic treble.
Guardiola’s team lifted the League Cup last month and is in a fierce contest for the Premier League title alongside Arsenal.
“No team has reached four finals in a row. It’s an incredible achievement, and hopefully, we can arrive with strong momentum,” Guardiola stated.
The City manager’s choice to make eight alterations from the team that edged Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday initially seemed questionable, as Southampton dominated the first half.
However, Guardiola’s men significantly improved after the interval, bolstered by the substitutions of Doku, Erling Haaland, and Bernardo Silva.
“It was challenging, but the wingers (Doku and Savinho) changed the tempo when they came on,” Guardiola remarked.
“They made a fantastic goal the first time they crossed the halfway line. Football is always full of surprises, but the way we played in the second half was exceptional.”
Compiled by SportArena.au
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